A through-wafer interconnect for imager, memory and other integrated circuit applications is disclosed, thereby eliminating the need for wire bonding, making devices incorporating such interconnects stackable and enabling wafer level packaging for imager devices. Further, a smaller and more reliable die package is achieved and circuit parasitics (e.g., L and R) are reduced due to the reduced signal path lengths.

Through-wafer interconnects for photoimager and memory wafers

The invention provides laser eye surgery devices, systems, and methods which measure the refractive error in the eye before, during, and/or after vision correction surgery. The invention allows adjustments during the vision correction operation, and allows qualitative and/or quantitative measurements of the progress of photorefractive treatments by projecting and imaging reference images though the cornea and other components of the ocular optical system. A slope of an image quality value such as an Optical Transfer Function may be monitored during the procedure to help determine when to terminate treatment.

Optical feedback system for vision correction

Methods and systems for tracking a position and torsional orientation of a patient's eye. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods and software for registering a first image of an eye with a second image of an eye. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods and software for tracking a torsional movement of the eye. In a particular usage, the present invention tracks the torsional cyclorotation and translational movement of a patient's eye so as to improve the delivery of a laser energy to the patient's cornea.

Methods and Systems for Tracking a Torsional Orientation and Position of an Eye

A system and method are provided in which an iris or eye image is taken during a refractive diagnostic analysis. The image is employed for aligning data from the analysis with data from other refractive analysis instruments, as well as aligning a refractive surgical tool, such as a laser, with the eye for treatment. Further, the stored iris image is compared with the patient's iris before treatment, verifying that the correct eye is to be treated with a developed treatment pattern. A variety of refractive instruments can be used, such as corneal topography systems and wavefront aberration systems.

Iris recognition and tracking for optical treatment

A laser energy microinscribing system, comprising a semiconductor excited Q-switched solid state laser energy source; a cut gemstone mounting system, allowing optical access to a mounted workpiece; an optical system for focusing laser energy from the laser energy source onto a cut gemstone; a displaceable stage for moving said gemstone mounting system with respect to said optical system so that said focused laser energy is presented to desired positions on said gemstone, having a control input; an imaging system for viewing the gemstone from a plurality of vantage points; and a rigid frame supporting said laser, said optical system and said stage in fixed relation, to resist differential movements of said laser, said optical system and said stage and increase immunity to vibrational misalignments. The laser energy source is preferably a semiconductor diode excited Q-switched Nd:YLF laser with a harmonic converter having an output of about 530 nm. The system may further comprise an input for receiving marking instructions; a processor for controlling said displaceable stage based on said marking instructions and said imaging system, to selectively generate a marking based on said instructions and a predetermined program; and a storage system for electronically storing information relating to images of a plurality of workpieces. A secure certificate of authenticity of a marked workpiece is also provided.

Laser marking system

A high speed, high resolution, programmable laser beam modulating apparatus includes a computer connected to a high resolution micromirror array having individually addressable and movable mirrors. The computer is also connected to a pulsed laser for controlling the emission thereof. A beam homogenizing optic changes an ablating input beam from the laser into a homogeneous beam having a uniform cross-sectional energy density. The mirrors are movable between an "on" position for reflecting a portion of the homogeneous beam onto a cornea, and an "off" position for reflecting the beam away from the cornea. The computer is programmed to move the mirrors to the "on" position in a series of predetermined patterns, and the remaining mirrors to the "off" position, and to fire the laser during the presence of each pattern, so that corresponding patterns of tissue on the cornea are successively ablated therefrom. The ablated patterns are overlaid on each other, so that they combine to produce a contour change in the cornea and correct a refractive error thereof.

High resolution, high speed, programmable laser beam modulating apparatus for microsurgery

A system (10) and method for performing corneal ablation or reshaping with a laser (22) in order to correct aberrations in the optical system of the eye (40) utilizes a wavefront sensor which defines a wavefront correction for the eye (40) and then, based upon that defined wavefront correction, drives a digital micromirror device (DMD) which modulates a laser beam to the eye (40) to perform the correction. As the DMD (26) is a 2-D array of individually controlled mirrors, and the wavefront sensor analysis can provide a sequence of two dimensional arrays of values which together define the wavefront correction for the eye (40), the combination of the two produces a method for correcting the corneal surface. The system (10) may be operated in either of two manners to achieve optimum refractive corrections: (1) off-line measurement of the eye optical system via the wavefront sensor followed by DMD-based laser refractive surgery, or (2) realtime measurement of the eye optical system via the wavefront sensor which directs a DMD-based laser refractive surgery system.

Laser eye surgery system using wavefront sensor analysis to control digital micromirror device (dmd) mirror patterns

An eye tracking, and positioning system (10) for use with a refractive laser system (14) includes a camera interface (30), a computer (12), and a system for moving the patient relative to the laser beam. The computer (12) includes a video frame grabber (32) which extracts images of the eye from the camera (22), and is programmed to perform an eye tracking algorithm. The eye tracking algorithm calculates the exact center of the eye pupil, and compares the center with the desired location of the laser beam, as determined by a surgeon, with an image processing algorithm. If the relative location of the eye center, the laser beam fall outside a predetermined value, the patient chair (42), and thereby the patient, is repositioned relative to the laser beam, as opposed to the laser beam being repositioned relative to the patient. The repositioning counters the movement of the eye.

Eye tracking and positioning system for a refractive laser system

A laser eye surgery system includes a laser for producing a laser beam capable of making refractive corrections, an optical system for shaping and conditioning the laser beam, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for reflecting the shaped and conditioned beam toward the eye, a computer system for controlling the mirrors of the DMD, and an eye tracking system which tracks the position of the eye and provides feedback to the computer system. The computer system includes software which permits the DMD to emulate the patterns and laser beam control provided in all prior art broadbeam systems and scanning spot systems. All that is required is a selection in the software to operate thereunder. Moreover, the laser surgery system can be coupled to or adapted to receive data from corneal topographers or wavefront sensor systems and utilize such data to increase the quality of correction above and beyond prior approaches. Furthermore, the laser surgery system can provide much greater resolution than prior art systems.

Control system for high resolution high speed digital micromirror device for laser refractive eye surgery

A laser eye surgery system includes a laser for producing a laser beam capable of making refractive corrections, an optical system for shaping and conditioning the laser beam, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for reflecting the shaped and conditioned beam toward the eye, a computer system for controlling the mirrors of the DMD, and an eye tracking system which tracks the position of the eye and provides feedback to the computer system.

Jerre M. Freeman

Papers

High resolution, high speed, programmable laser beam modulating apparatus for microsurgery

Laser eye surgery system using wavefront sensor analysis to control digital micromirror device (dmd) mirror patterns

Eye tracking and positioning system for a refractive laser system

Control system for high resolution high speed digital micromirror device for laser refractive eye surgery

Method and system for control of high resolution high speed digital micromirror device for laser refractive eye surgery